KCDuck1

Jon and OBD, Yes, tOSU closed the open end of the Horseshoe (OSU football stadium) and built seats there several years ago; regardless, there are still tens of thousands of OSU fans that will not be able to afford or to garner a ticket to see one of the Buckeyes' games live. Let's hope the Ducks experience a similar problem within the next five years. But, that is the B1G. Just visit the Big House in Ann Arbor. You might ask as you walk past or into the stadium whether this is a new structure. Well, it looks like it! But, that is how many of the B1G universities maintain their stadiums. Just watch (and count the participants) of their marching bands. This is another investment where the Ducks have only dabbled (even though our Sports facilities and School of Music (among many of the other schools) are light-years beyond what they were 40 years ago). Our first year in the B1G is going to be an eye-opener for all of us - the newbies and those institutions that have been sitting on their duffers in the B1G conference. They have us academically, but we have been improving by leaps-and-bounds, and will continue to do so. tOSU seems to have not withheld any monies this year in their drive to gain the best players and Asst/Coords coaches. So now, it's our mission to beat the Buckeyes and win (against every other team against whom we compete, too). We want their best game to be their Spring game. This year, even Idaho might have its' best team in years! Ducks of Oregon, leave no stone unturned. Go-Fight-Win! This is going to be a fun season! Fortunately, we have the coaches, players, staff and analyst support and fans for which most people can only wish. VR, KCDuck1

OBD, Most college football fans out here in Kansas and Missouri are surprised Isaiah Mozee signed at this time with Oregon. He is well regarded out here in KC, and he will be fun to watch play. When he gets the ball, he fights to get into the end zone. Isaiah's dad played running back on an Oklahoma Natl Championship team around or about 1999. So, one can imagine OU was working hard to sign Isaiah. Isaiah remarked at least once that his dad was great at figuring out which recruiters/coaches were fake and which were genuine. My guess is Dan Lanning was considered genuine. VR, KCDuck1

Kirklandduck, Thank you for posting the FootballScoop.com article discussing Coach Luper (U of Missouri RBs coach) and his remarks and thoughts WRT Coach Lock's rather frivolous comments that college football RBs coaches have the worst job among all the football coaches, or words to that effect. Coach Luper's comments could be summarized as, How would Locklyn know? He has only coached RBs for three years; but, maybe he has it wired. BTW, Coach Luper was voted RBs Coach of the Year for 2023 by previous winners. Coach Luper added the following, " "If you look at the National Football League in terms of the devaluing of that position [RBs], it became abundantly clear it was devalued and is devalued. It has become a quarterback league. How many will make it to their second contract? Not many. It was a running back league, it's not anymore. The game has changed. But because the game has changed, the running back is asked to do more," Luper said. "There's a lot more asked of the position, and so there's a lot more asked of the running back coaches. There's a lot more to it than when they turned around and pitched him the football. "Offenses are more complex, more multiple. Defenses are, too," Luper continued. "Back in the day it was toss left, toss right. Iso. Now there's checks at the line of scrimmage -- pass to run, run to pass, five man protection to six, six man protection to five. My running back was on the field every down last year, regardless of the formation. More is asked of the position. They need to know blitzes, blitz keys, coverages; defenses are playing man on one side, zone on the other. My guys stay on the field for three downs, and most do. We still have to get first downs, touchdowns, and protect the football. You have to have smart players and coach them up." This fall, Missouri's Cody Schrader, a Division II transfer, led the SEC in rushing while also becoming the first player in conference history to amass 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game. "Most of the men I mentioned are not playing with 5-star running backs. It's really obvious to see how many yards a running back has," Luper said. "It's really obvious to see that Ollie Gordon at Oklahoma State led the nation in yards. You have to look closer to see how well coached they were. They don't fumble, they don't give up sacks. They're aware." This fall will be Luper's 30th in coaching. He's coached running backs continuously since 2002, with stops at New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Auburn, TCU, and now Missouri. Prior winners selected him as the FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year in 2023. "Maybe (Locklyn) has it all figured out in three years," Luper quipped." -- Coach Luper I suggest to OBD that Coach Lock has a lot to learn, still. How about his successor? Perhaps the Ducks DID hire an upgrade. We'll know soon. Thanks and VR, KCDuck1

Coach Lock, Where's the beef? Really? Don't let that "money" cancer eat you alive personally or professionally. Most of us thought you were better than that, and now we know you are not. May I suggest you get that petty resentment out of your professional soul before you display any more to others in the East. VR, KCDuck1

Jon Joseph noted, "...Coach Samples's Dad is the coach at Texas powerhouse HS Duncanville." Who even knew? Well Jon knew. Who could have foreseen this association. The Ducks are trying to sign the 2025 #1 Receiver, who has "committed" to LSU, but is still being recruited by the Ducks and others. This receiver has phenomenal capabilities. Still, he is interested, but the LSU coaches haven't just assumed they have him locked up. They have a great recruiting class, and currently, it looks very good. Who knows, both the Ducks and LSU might meet on the field of competition this year. The Ducks may not get the receiver, but it is nice to have a potential link into the currently #1 program (talent-wise) in TX. That available talent changes every year, but great coaching does not change. Coach Lanning - thank you. You seem to have brought the Duck family another great coach. You might consider sending Coach Dillingham a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon for New Years, regardless. Win, Ducks, Win! VR, KCDuck1

Mudslide, OK, Looks like you may have found another viable candidate - Newland Isaac - for RB Coach consideration. Let's see what Coach Lanning says. VR, KCDuck1

NJDuck, Coach Samples sounds very good to me. I hated losing Coach Locklyn to Ohio State, but Locklyn's loss & hire speaks to the high quality of the current Duck coaches. Samples may only be with us as the RB coach for a year or two, but his description is loaded with value-added terms. This is the right kind of coach for the Ducks - iron sharpens iron - a coach who teaches the RBs to be leaders in their thinking, Prep, and on the field. Isn't that exactly what we want all our Duck coaches to exemplify? If only the Ducks' women's BB head coach could be so. ;-)) VR, KCDuck1

WiseKwacker, I am thick-headed today; would you please explain the "Ticonderoga, baby!!"? Thanks! VR,KCDuck1

All, This reminds one of the agreement our AD (and/or University President) made foregoing any claim to the $30MIL the university Sports programs had earned during this past (and apparently current) fiscal year if what we have heard and read about the PAC-12 and NCAA BB Tourney monies is also true. The AD and/or University President seem almighty generous with monies that are going to be needed next year and perhaps the next few years. The AD darned near bungled the Men's FB HC hiring when he looked South to UC Berkeley. Fortunately, the AD stepped back from the cliff. Two things we know about our Women's BB Head Coach Graves: he had a horrible season record, and his losses were a catastrophe (lost to Colorado by 49 points!); and, our WBB HC has yet to figure out how to lead, communicate with, and recruit his own team. He does not have to use the portal. Just talk with and convince your own players they are in the right place, and you will do much better as a leader and the program will do much better culturally, that they are not wasting their time and energies on a person that has failed his program and team. Harsh conclusions? Accurate conclusions based on a measurable record. If the HC cannot do the right thing, then the problem is rooted higher. Let's clean house and start winning. Win, Ducks, WIN! If Men's Football and Women's Lacrosse can do it, all other programs can do it. Men's Baseball and Women's Softball, X-Country, T&F (indoor and outdoors), Women's Soccer, and Men's Basketball have determined to move forward. Let's employ the money we have and stop acting like blind fools who are wasting our hard-earned heritage. Best regards, KCDuck1

Don, Great article - very informative! One thing we know is Coach Graves is not the right coach for the Ducks Women's Basketball team. We don't lose to Baylor like that and then with an internal critique of, I thought we played well, or words to that effect. Losing to Colorado in the PAC-12 Tourney by 49 points! That is the number one criterion for separation. The AD and his Women's Sports Director should have been embarrassed! Don stated Coach Graves is is a genuinely nice person and decent human being. Don never described Coach Graves as an incredible BB coach. Don never mentioned he might be an incredible leader, communicator, recruiter, motivator, and/or problem-solver; so, I believe he is not any of those things. Nor is a he consistent game-winner and player developer. If the criteria to be the Ducks Women's BB coach is not to have and demonstrate the above capabilities and capacities, then the AD is grossly over-paying this man, when he has become unable to effectively carry out the expected duties at a high level, as demonstrated by his and the team's performance this past year. If the University is unable to make that decision quickly and complete their search for a new leader, then perhaps it's time to make another higher change. When the UofO AD becomes willing to release $30MIL of the universities' money for no good reason, and to give up our Men's BB Conference Tourney and Post-season earnings/revenues seemingly without a second thought, then perhaps (in fact, it is!) the problem is much bigger/higher than it first seemed to be. See the FishDuck article, "Rob Mullens: Is it Sloth or Apathy?" VR, KCDuck1

May I inquire what has happened to the young man (an Edge or a DL from the Bay area) who had moved up from a 3*(+) recently? Haven't seen his name displayed lately. Has he had a change of mind? Or, is he re-thinking his commitment based on a cascade of recent offers? Thanks and VR, KCDuck1

Drake, As you noted with the challenges you ID'd, every year is different. To date, this HC, the Asst coaching staff, and the analysts have been markedly better every year, and I expect it to continue on that upward trajectory this year, too. That is based on the HC, the Standard he has set, and the Asst coaches and their stability. But, didn't we lose "Meat"? I believe we will be markedly better. I believe we recruited the right players 15 and three months ago, and that together all the DL and Edge players we have will give us the three -to -four echelons on the DL the HC requires. The competition will do nothing but make all the players work harder to be better. The best part is they will make the OL, TEs, and RBs better, too. The DL must improve focus on hand placement. Our new LBs working with those we have are going to make the TEs, RBs, and Receivers better. The other echelon we don't talk enough about are how the DBs, and the STAR fit together with the LBs and the DL, respectively to create a defensive system. We will have an even more effective system this coming year. Now, if we can just produce a consistent threat to attack KO and punt returns for 6 points or exceptional field position, and upgrade our KO Return coverage. UW found that seam in the PAC-12 Champs. But, we are starting to get close. Have a great series of games at Eugene/Autzen this next Fall. Best regards and VR, KCDuck1

Drake, I agree with everything you stated, but I believe you missed one thing: we must have the coaches, and we must retain them. We might be able to develop some good players in each area, but not enough to be elite. Therefore, we must have the players with elite potential. But, they have to learn how to work, to push, and to stretch themselves. They are doing part of that right now - The Climb. Must still become a TEAM. As Duckster stated, the Georgia Bulldogs weighed us, they measured us, and they found us wanting. UW and OSU did the same to us. Last year, UW did that to us in the PAC-12 Championship game in the 1st and 4th Qtrs. UW became the Medes and the Persians, and they re-directed the Euphretes River so they could destroy us. Initially, they scored, and we looked like saps - don't think we had a 1st Down in the first 2-3 series; 4th Qtr - we could not stop them or that RB. He demanded 6-7 yards every carry, and he took them. Let's see what this year brings. We are re-shaping and re-directing that culture to be a very tough out for any team, and our defense is tougher than last year - best tackling year I have ever seen by the Ducks except for the championship game. We have to learn how to defeat O-Line blocks consistently and beat the big back behind them. We could not stop that RB. Must win that battle this year. Best regards and Go Ducks! KCDuck1

Sir Mister Fishduck, Shouldn't our Women's BB coaches' fanny be red-hot about now? He has finally tied the record for most consecutive losses in a year. He seems like he is coasting while injuries limit his team's success. Still, isn't that a problem for all coaches in every sport? Doesn't a coach determine the physical fitness of their team to then shape the training IOT facilitate greater fitness or to exploit the firness they have to defeat opponents? The Ducks' Women's BB program has been on a downward slide for quite a while. I was disappointed when our previous point guard transferred to USC to play for a winning program. She recognized our program was going nowhere but would continue the downward slide. To be fair, I never talked with our previous PG, and I am specualting as to her motivation. I believe we are fortunate to have the players we have, but they are not enough. We have seen what our coach can do when he has a lot of great material that meshes, and what he does when he fails to mesh the material - he loses, and his job is to win. Best regards with your move and new home. Thanks for your consideration, KCDuck1

Drake, you said the right things, but perhaps in a slightly different sequence. "Utah and OSU created huge problems for DM. I suppose both defenses would have created problems for true freshman QBs. The obvious concerns are his 9 ints vs. 11 TDs, and the 25 sacks the opposition were able to record. Those are obvious red flags considering he was used sparingly a few games. The good news is that we have the luxury of having a 5* QB on our sidelines. He has potential, but he really needs to work at his craft. At least it sounds like the QB coach has solid material to work with. Let’s work on throwing it to the right guys and vastly improve his ability to read defenses." The Utah and OSU defenses caused problems for a number of people as evidenced by the 25 sacks leading to the 9 interceptions. It seems like DM did not have much more than 1.5- 2 seconds to read the defense and select his receiver. If he was in the grasp by that time, he probably threw a poorly-aimed ball. Now, Coach Stein and his staff have to train DM, [and Novosad and our newest QB] to read defenses well and accurately (we are a team, but this is a competition); then, accurately and rapidly go through their progressions based on the play; then, deliver the ball where it is catchable only by the receiver. They must also teach each of the QBs how to gain that perception, "I must move now, and to where" and "Too late, secure the ball," or "Throw it where no one can catch it." They must learn all that and all the plays. Coach Tedford did the "read and recognize the defense drill" and the thinking using a checkers board one Summer for any of the QBs that were available. Drake, You had it, just a little more general than I would appreciate Coach Stein using with the QBs. VR, KCDuck1